The Black Scallop Ajuga, otherwise known as the Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 or Bugle ‘Black Scallop’, Carpet Bugle ‘Black Scallop’, Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’, Bugleweed ‘Black Scallop’, Carpetweed ‘Black Scallop’, is a rather well known perennial plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world.
Best known for its low maintenance and fast growth, this perennial will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its burgundy colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
Fortunately, this is exactly what we’ll cover in this Black Scallop Ajuga Care Guide. So let’s dive in.
In order to take proper care of your Black Scallop Ajuga you’ll need to keep in mind the following guidelines:
- Water: The Black Scallop Ajuga grows best with regular watering to keep the soil moist during the dry season. Reduce watering once the plant is established.
- Light: Keep your Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 in an environment where it can receive partial to full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Make sure to keep the Black Scallop Ajuga in soil with moist but well-draining properties, so ideally, one that is made of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
And that’s practically it! If you keep these three factors in check, your Black Scallop Ajuga will likely have all it needs for it to survive and even thrive.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
In botanical terms, the Black Scallop Ajuga belongs to the Lamiaceae family, the genus Ajuga and the species Reptans, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 (a-JU-gah REP-tanz).
As with other Ajuga’s, the Black Scallop Ajuga is a herbaceous plant, which means it will die back to the ground every year.
Growing Region
The Black Scallop Ajuga is a plant native to the northern Africa, Europe and southwestern Asia.
You might be wondering why your Black Scallop Ajuga’s native region is important. Well, if you know where your plant originally came from, you’ll know which environment conditions it prefers, and with it, knowledge on how to replicate it at home.
With this in mind, the Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 will be most used to the heat zones in the 1 – 9 region, as the plant hardiness level falls between 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b and the ideal climate zone is between 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Black Scallop Ajuga is a relatively fast grower, which makes things tricky for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But, how big does the Black Scallop Ajuga actually get? What should you expect in terms of size? Let’s dive right in…
The Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 can grow up to 3″ – 6″ (7cm – 15cm) in 3″ – 6″ (7cm – 15cm) and 1′ – 3′ (30cm – 90cm) in 1′ – 3′ (30cm – 90cm).
These dimensions make the Black Scallop Ajuga a relatively medium perennial compared to others, so it’s best to keep this fact in mind since it will affect where you want to keep yours at home.
Also, expect it to grow in a wonderful compact, and spreading shape, which is something worthwhile to remember when making your garden landscape plans.
This is why experts recommend keeping an area of approximately 36″ (90cm) free so the Black Scallop Ajuga can spread to its best extent.
Water
In terms of watering, the Black Scallop Ajuga is a fairly complicated plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a not so straightforward watering schedule and somewhat regular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 grows best with regular watering to keep the soil moist during the dry season. Reduce watering once the plant is established.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively average needs in terms of water.
Watering
As a rule of thumb, you should remember to keep your Black Scallop Ajuga in soil with moist but well-draining characteristics, as these will guarantee the right conditions for your plant to grow and thrive.
When you consider this, this is why you should aim to choose soil that has good drainage, and occasionally wet properties to keep the right moisture levels at all times.
But, if you want a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to watering your Black Scallop Ajuga then you should consider the famous ‘finger’ test. To perform this test, you just need to put your finger in your plant’s soil and determine if it’s moist or not. If it is, then don’t water; if it isn’t, then please do. In any case, this test will allow you to know if your Black Scallop Ajuga needs or does not need water, every time.
Soil Mix
As mentioned earlier, the Black Scallop Ajuga prefers to have soil with good drainage, and occasionally wet properties at all times, reason why you need to make the soil mix out of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
This is why most experts agree that the Black Scallop Ajuga requires soil with clay, loam (silt), and sand, which will give you the right conditions it needs.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably alkaline, acid or neutral soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Black Scallop Ajuga requires partial to full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this perennial will do well as long as you keep it in partial sun to shade, and it will be able to grow properly.
Specifically, we recommend that you place your Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 in from full or deep shade (no direct sunlight or at most 2 hours per day), to little to partial shade (only 2-6 hours of direct sunlight a day), to dappled or moderate shade (under other plant’s canopy), and finally full and direct sun (more 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).
Season
Being a herbaceous plant, the Black Scallop Ajuga will die back to the ground every year.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (late), and during the summer (early).
Flowers
You can expect your Black Scallop Ajuga to flower around the spring and in the summer months from April to June (spring), and from July to September (summer).
In particular, this perennial is well known for its flowers for cutting and showy flowers around the plant enthusiast community.
The Black Scallop Ajuga produces some beautiful violet-blue, or purple/lavender, blue and white flowers around this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Black Scallop Ajuga have a beautiful burgundy color during most of the year.
In particular, they have a simple arrangement with a rosulate, oppositewhorled, organization in its leaves.
You can expect the leaves from your Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 to be around (3-6 inches) in size.
Attracts, Tolerance and Resistance
The Black Scallop Ajuga is well known for being able to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, so keep that in mind when choosing your plant, as you’ll likely end up finding one or another in your garden.
Additionally, it has a special tolerance for animals like rabbit and deer, so don’t worry if any of these come along, your Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 will be fine.
Garden
Now, let’s talk garden and how your Black Scallop Ajuga will look best in it.
Most Ajuga Reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Plant Patent #15,815 owners agree that this perennial will look great in most cottage, contemporary and rustic gardens of all types.
Other owners consider that they complement well most gardens of informal and cottage, and in prairie and meadow styles.
In particular, the Black Scallop Ajuga’s best location within your garden is in beds and borders, patio and containers, banks and slopes, ground covers, and in underplanting roses and shrubs, others use it for landscaping in a erosion control, mass planting, border, edging, ground cover, firescaping/fire wise, cutting garden, container, or a woodland garden.
Companion Plants
Black Scallop Ajuga’s do well with some other plants beside it. One good companion plant is the Heuchera, which will pair up nicely with your leafy friend.
Others consider that a nice Athyrium will work well too, so choose whichever you find works best for you!
Conclusion
So that’s it! These are the main plant care requirements that you need to keep in mind in order to have a healthy Black Scallop Ajuga in your garden or home.
